Loading...

Jul 29, 2018

A comic that perfectly summarizes my feelings about Japan's seasons

It's no surprise to anyone that it's stinking hot in much of the country right now, but there was a time I longed for summer - and that was in the middle of winter here. I was sick and tired of the weather being so bleak that it was impossible to get out of the house with young kids in tow. People tell me regularly that "snow is beautiful!" and "you're so lucky to live somewhere that it snows so much!" but when it interferes with your daily life and your ability to get stuff done it loses the allure pretty quickly.


I was excited for the warmer weather and even said multiple times in January and February "I can't wait for it to be hot and humid again!", but quite frankly the summers here are just as tough as the winters are in many respects. Today it's meant to be 35c, but the "feels like" temperature is projected to be 43. That's painfully hot to be outside for more than what is absolutely necessary, and I feel like I'm relegated to heading out in the very first or very last parts of the day. Quite frankly, it's already hot and sticky pre 6am when we are up taking our dog out, and it just gets worse from there. A lot of the time I feel like I'm under house arrest, just battling to stay cool and for the sun to go down.

A comic that perfectly summarizes my feelings about Japan's seasons photo

My life in Japan accurately summarized in cartoon form. Pic credit: Fowl Language Comics


It's hard to deal with the fluctuation in seasons here in Niigata where you've got snow on the ground from basically November until early April. You get quite pleasant temperatures from mid April through May, but then June enters and brings the heat and humidity with it. The stickiness doesn't feel like it lets up until late September, so you've got about another month and a half until it's cold and miserable again.


I guess I should be grateful for the three months a year where it's not scorching or freezing outside...but this weather is testing my patience!


0 Comments